Cincinnati Reds: Too many home runs have been allowed this season

The Cincinnati Reds rally fell short last night in Pittsburgh and they lost to the Pirates 3-6. Cody Reed allowed a home run to Starling Marte in the 4th inning. Reds pitchers lead the league in home runs allowed this season.

Cody Reed, making his second consecutive start, went 5 innings and allowed 6 runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in last night’s game. Starling Marte’s blast in the 4th inning was the 201st home run allowed by Cincinnati Reds pitching this season. The long ball has absolutely killed the Reds this season.

The Cincinnati Reds lead the National League in home runs allowed this season, and it’s not even close. The Reds have given up 201 round trippers in 2018. The Washington Nationals are the behind the Reds with 172 homers allowed this season.

Now, to be fair, the Reds do play in the most hitter-friendly ballpark in the NL, and probably the entire Major League. With that being said, the San Diego Padres, who play in perhaps the most pitcher-friendly park in the Majors have allowed 155 long balls this season.

The Padres, with the 7th most dingers allowed, are about in the middle of the pack, so the argument about the stadium in which the team plays doesn’t carry much weight in this argument. Even the Colorado Rockies have only allowed 160.

Last season, the Reds led the National League in that category as well, surrendering 248 homers. In 2016, the Reds led the NL again with 258. The Reds finally had a reprieve back in 2015, allowing only 177 deep flies. In 2012, the last season in which the Reds were a competitive squad, they allowed only 152 home runs, good for No. 10 that year in the National League.

Yes, home runs have been leaving the ballparks at a record rate in 2018, but the Cincinnati Reds pitchers need to be in the middle-of-the-pack for home runs allowed and not the leader.

The Reds have four starters in the Top 10 of home runs allowed in 2018. Luis Castillo (24), Homer Bailey (23), Matt Harvey (23) and Sal Romano (22) have allowed a combined 92 homers on the season. Throw in Tyler Mahle‘s 21 home runs allowed, and the Reds’ starting rotation for the majority of the year has allowed 113 homers this season.

If the Reds hope to have any success in 2019, this is an issue that must be resolved. Homer Bailey goes to the mound tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Let’s hope he doesn’t add to his total.